/PRZWT/The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Project Ambassador Appointment Ceremony was held during the 2026 Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. These young innovators from all over the world stood out from the two project tracks of "Sport & Tech" and "Accessibility & Environment". Their solutions demonstrated the positive changes that technology could bring to communities and the future.
As the official global mobile and computing device partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Samsung recently announced that in its ongoing corporate responsibility and public welfare projects, it has officially selected 10 ambassadors for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program.
This press conference was held in Milan, concurrent with the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The three-day event ran from February 8th to 10th, featuring an appointment ceremony, solution exhibition, and communication activities.
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow project is a global education initiative launched by Samsung, which encourages young people to innovate solutions based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) knowledge, aiming to address practical problems in daily life and global challenges. This year's Samsung Solve for Tomorrow project ambassadors were selected from the winning teams of the Samsung SFT project competitions held around the world. The final list was jointly determined by Samsung and the International Olympic Committee based on the innovation, scalability, and social impact of the proposals. Ten selected teams focused on two categories: "Sport & Tech" and "Accessibility & Environment", with 5 teams in each category.
As part of the Ambassador Program, each selected team will receive project funding and receive two-year continuous support from Samsung to help them transform their creative prototypes into commercially viable products. Among them, the five teams in the sports technology category will receive joint support from Samsung and the International Olympic Committee.
At the appointment ceremony, two outstanding representatives of the project - Danielle Yang, the sports technology ambassador of the Samsung SFT project, and Simon Cénet from the Liova team in France, shared their personal insights and stories about youth innovation and the practical impact of the project.
Danielle Yang has a hearing impairment. When explaining the reason for her participation, she said, "I joined the Samsung SFT project to solve the difficulties I encounter in my daily life." She added, "With the support of Samsung and the International Olympic Committee, I am very honored and happy to have the opportunity to share my ideas with the world, even on an Olympic stage."
The young Turkish woman Irem Erden won the regional competition award for the OilSorb project (which utilizes reusable wool-based oil-absorbing pads and drone technology). She said, "Through the Samsung SFT project, I gained confidence and believe that my idea can bring positive changes to society. As an ambassador selected for this event, I will strive to inspire more young people to join in."
Sustainable innovation in the fields of sports and technology
This year's ambassador program is themed "Sport & Tech", aiming to inspire young people to promote sustainable innovation through the integration of sports, technology and responsibility. The official appointment ceremony was held at the Samsung House in Milan. The International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, the International Olympic Committee Executive Committee member and President of the Samsung Global Research Institute Jae Youl Kim, the Chairman of the Olympic 365 Committee Auvita Rapilla, the Committee member Nawal El Moutawakel, the President and Global Marketing Director of Samsung Electronics Won-Jin Lee, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Simon Sung, among about 80 global stakeholders, attended this event.
At the appointment ceremony, Samsung and the International Olympic Committee jointly made a commitment that they would work together to cultivate future talents and help young people build a better world. This commitment was vividly presented through a stage performance: As the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold unfolded and overlapped, the logos of both parties merged into one, forming a complete visual image. The action of unfolding the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold symbolized the continuous expansion of creativity and potential, and also reflected the shared belief of Samsung and the International Olympic Committee that young people can lead the future and open up new possibilities.
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, said: "The projects brought by the young people are full of creativity, imagination and the enthusiasm to change the world. It is truly inspiring. You are using technology to shape a more inclusive, more sustainable, healthier and more dynamic future. I am particularly delighted to see the winning teams in the Sports & Tech category. They have combined sports, technology and problem-solving skills, and are creating real value that can truly change people's lives."
Won-Jin Lee, the global marketing director of Samsung, said: "Through the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow project and our collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, we are creating a growth platform for young people where they can discover their strengths, express their creative ideas, and make valuable contributions to society. We not only support innovative practices, but also cultivate the future youth who inherit values such as excellence, respect, friendship, and creativity."
Solution Exhibition and Innovation Exchange Conference
On February 9th, the ambassador teams showcased their developed solutions at the Milan Smart City Laboratory and participated in an innovation-themed exchange meeting hosted by the Olympic 365 Innovation Center of the International Olympic Committee. The exchange meeting helped the ambassadors acquire the necessary skills to become sustainable development innovators in the sports field. Representatives from the International Olympic Committee, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, and several Italian government agencies will attend this exhibition event.
On February 10th, the ambassador team participated in a series of on-site activities and official events, and visited the Olympic Village for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Through these experiences, Samsung helped the ambassadors deepen their understanding of sports and technology, and gain a deeper appreciation of the Olympic values and the Olympic spirit.
The 10 selected teams of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow project ambassadors and the details of their projects are as follows:
Five Sport & Tech Ambassador teams
Australia | TeamUp: Ahan Khiani, an AI-based platform, connects individuals with local sports teams and communities, enhancing public participation in leisure sports.
Indonesia | Run Sight: Anthony Edbert Feriyanto's wearable artificial intelligence solution identifies running tracks and obstacles, helping visually impaired individuals safely participate in running and other sports activities.
Turkey | Poseidon: Umut Devrim Deveci has designed a swimming safety system for visually impaired people. It uses wristband vibrations to alert users and issues warnings when they approach the pool boundary or obstacles.
UK | Curastep: Raye Woon's smart sports shoes equipped with sensors can detect the early signs of blister formation on diabetic patients' feet, encouraging users to engage in physical exercise safely.
USA | Storm Shield: Danielle Yang - This protective sports headband is designed to safeguard hearing aids from damage caused by moisture, impacts, and environmental factors during physical activities.
Five Accessibility & Environment Ambassador Teams
China | Furen Makers: Chenyue Wang's Brainwave-Controlled Wheelchair, designed to assist patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and others with physical disabilities in moving, rehabilitation training, and physical activities.
France | Liova: The Simon Cénet reusable battery-making kit enables the transformation of discarded smartphone batteries into portable power banks, helping to reduce electronic waste.
India | Paraspeak: Pranet Khetan's cloud-based artificial intelligence solution can instantly convert the indistinct speech of people with speech disorders into clear pronunciation.
Turkey | Oilsorb: İrem Erden's sustainable oil spill treatment solution, which combines recyclable wool oil-absorbing pads with drone technology, addresses the issue of marine pollution.
USA | AKQUA-Gel: Arya Anilkumar's AI-driven smart bandage can monitor the healing of wounds in real time using sensor data and also supports early infection detection.
